1 Corinthians 14
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1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy.
2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.2For the person who speaks in another language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.
3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation.
4Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.4The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church.
5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.5I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.
6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?7Even inanimate things that produce sounds--whether flute or harp--if they don't make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?
8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?8In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?
9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.9In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.
10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.
11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.
12So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.12So also you--since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.
13For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.13Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.
16Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
17You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.18I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you;
19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.
20Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.20Brothers, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.
21In the Law it is written: "With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."21It is written in the law: I will speak to these people by people of other languages and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.
22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.22It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.
23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?23Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.
25as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"25The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, "God is really among you."
26What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.26What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification.
27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.27If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret.
28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.28But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.
30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent.
31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.
32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.32And the prophets' spirits are under the control of the prophets,
33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace--as in all the congregations of the Lord's people.33since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
34Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says.
35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.35And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting.
36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?36Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?
37If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command.
38But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.38But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.
39Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages.
40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.40But everything must be done decently and in order.
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Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
1 Corinthians 13
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